Alibaba has introduced its latest AI reasoning model, QwQ-32B, claiming superior performance over OpenAI-o1-mini and the widely recognized DeepSeek-R1. The announcement sent Alibaba’s Hong Kong-listed shares soaring by 8%, driving gains in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index.
The release follows the debut of another AI agent, Manus, developed by Chinese firm Monica. Unlike traditional chatbots, Manus is designed to handle complex, multi-step tasks, such as resume screening and automated website creation, marking a shift toward AI systems that deliver tangible outcomes rather than just generating responses.
Alibaba highlighted that QwQ-32B delivers a “qualitative leap” in mathematics, coding, and general reasoning, positioning it as a leading model in the AI ecosystem. Despite having only 32 billion parameters compared to DeepSeek-R1’s 671 billion, the company emphasized its model’s efficiency and advanced capabilities, achieving comparable results with significantly fewer computational resources.
DeepSeek gained global recognition in January with its cost-efficient R1 model, signaling China’s ability to compete with Western AI leaders. The momentum has bolstered investor confidence in China’s AI sector, contributing to a 30% surge in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index since the start of the year.
Alibaba has been aggressively expanding its AI portfolio. In January, it introduced Qwen 2.5 Max, which it claimed outperformed DeepSeek’s V3 model. Since launching its ChatGPT-equivalent Tongyi Qianwen in 2023, the company has remained at the forefront of China’s AI development. Last week, Alibaba committed 380 billion yuan ($52.4 billion) over the next three years to AI and cloud infrastructure, surpassing its investments in these sectors over the past decade.
Chinese leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to AI and emerging technologies, pledging increased funding for artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and quantum computing. Alibaba’s latest AI advancements position it as a major force in China’s rapidly evolving technology landscape.
